The Fallen Queen by Kate O'Hearn

Author:Kate O'Hearn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2021-07-20T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

The mountain was farther away than it looked, and it took an age to get there. But just as the sun was high over their heads, they finally reached the base. Melissa was lowered to the ground, and everyone sat or lay down to rest.

Jake slid off Chiron’s back. “Thank you again, Chiron; I appreciate that.”

“It was my pleasure,” Chiron said. “After we have rested and had something to eat, we will start to go through the caves.”

While a container of ambrosia was opened and distributed among everyone, Jake looked for Angie. He found her with all the snakes. They were out of the ambrosia containers and scattered around on the ground. She was handing them pieces of ambrosia.

“How are they?”

“Fine,” Angie said. “I’m sure they’re glad to be out of those cramped containers.”

Nesso hissed. “They are. And they are ready to give more venom.”

“That is good news,” Jake said. “I’ll get one of the bottles and we can start.”

As Jake went to collect the venom bottle, he saw Melissa lying down beneath a tree. She was all alone, and the people around her looked at her with a mix of fear and resentment.

“Hey, Melissa,” he said gently.

Her large, bulbous head turned at the sound. “Jake, where are we?”

“I don’t really know,” Jake said. “But it’s far from the Mimics. You’ll be safe here.”

“They don’t like me,” Melissa said sadly.

“They don’t know you yet. Give them time.”

“They don’t like me because of what the others have done to them. Do you like me?”

Jake approached the strange-looking Fallen Queen. He reached out and patted her good arm where it lay on the ground. “You know I do.”

“I like you and Nesso too,” Melissa said weakly. “You’re cool.”

“Thank you, Melissssa,” Nesso hissed.

“You’re welcome,” Melissa said.

Jake gasped. “Can you understand Nesso?”

“Uh-huh,” Melissa said. “Just like you. Jake, am I going to die?”

“Not if I can help it,” Jake said. “Stay here. I’ll get you some more ambrosia. That will help.”

Jake went to one of the containers and pulled out a large chunk of ambrosia cake. He took a bite and then handed a small piece up to Nesso.

“Sssome of the othersss were watching what you were doing with Melissssa. They ssstill do not like her.”

“I don’t care if they like her or not. Just as long as they leave her alone.”

“They will be essspecially angry if they sssee you giving her ambrosssia.”

Nesso was right. Some of the resting Titans and Olympians were watching him suspiciously. He sought out Diana in the large gathering. She was seated with two men. One looked very similar to her, and Jake realized it must be her twin, Apollo. But he didn’t recognize the other.

“Diana, I need your help, please,” Jake said lightly.

Diana rose slowly to her feet. She stood taller than him and had electric-blue eyes and striking black hair. Apollo also had blue eyes and dark hair. He stayed on the ground. The other man rose and smiled at him.

“Jake, is it?” he asked. “I’m Steve Jacobs.

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